From the Chief Executive
Kia ora tātou,
This month’s HPSNZ Update marks 5 years since we launched this newsletter, designed to showcase the mahi of our partners and all those across the high performance system.
A huge thank you to all the athletes, coaches, support staff and others who have contributed to its stories and shared your experiences and insights with our readers. Based on the numbers opening and reading HPSNZ Update, the content continues to be greatly appreciated.
Speaking of milestones, we took a moment last week to reflect on 15 years of HPSNZ since its inception in 2011.
This country’s high performance sport system, and all those involved in it, can and should reflect with pride on the success we have achieved on the world stage in that time. The shining example of that is the series of record-breaking Olympic performances from 13 medals at London 2012, to 18 at Rio 2016, 20 at Tokyo 2020 and 20 (including a record 10 golds) at Paris 2024.
New Zealand has also enjoyed great success at Paralympic Games, Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and world championships over the same period.
But perhaps most importantly, the last decade and a half has been a period of significant learning and evolution for the New Zealand high performance sport system, which has embraced wellbeing as a performance enabler and placed it at the core of everything we do. These elements, combined with our connectedness, have driven the system’s enhanced maturity and underpinned our increasing podium success.
Learning, evolution and connectedness will potentially be more critical than ever in the months and years to come as we work together to tackle the multitude of challenges ahead of us and maintain New Zealand’s proud winning record on the world stage.
Ngā mihi
Raelene
Wellbeing Investment Fund strengthening system capability
For the past 3 years, HPSNZ’s Wellbeing Investment Fund has quietly supported national sporting organisations (NSOs) to build stronger, safer and more sustainable high performance environments.
Until now, most investment has focused on foundational system work establishing wellbeing lead roles, conducting scoping reviews and embedding core policies and frameworks.
HPSNZ Wellbeing and Engagement Lead Toni Minniti says the sector is now ready for the next phase.
“People have spent the last three years building foundations. We’re now seeing sports come forward with more bespoke, creative projects that build on that systemic work,” she says.
Current initiatives from Rowing New Zealand (water safety) and Swimming New Zealand (3 interconnected initiatives) show how the fund is enabling targeted projects that strengthen wellbeing, safety and performance across high performance environments.
Read about Rowing NZ’s and Swimming NZ’s bespoke wellbeing initiatives ➜
Alicia Hoskin’s story becomes resource for other athletes
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz
Earlier this year double Olympic Canoe Racing gold medallist Alicia Hoskin partnered with HPSNZ to tell her story of navigating thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that forced her to pause the sport she loves.
Alicia told her story in 3 parts released separately – starting with her diagnosis and decision making, moving to the major surgery she underwent, and finally, reflecting on the mental skills and support networks she had to draw on for her rehab.
Now Alicia’s story has been collated in one 14-minute video clip which is available as a valuable resource for other athletes navigating injury, an outcome which was at the heart of Alicia’s motivation for sharing her story.
The resource is available to all athletes via HPSNZ’s Athlete Performance Library, and you can view the full story of Alicia’s health journey here.
Coaching Female Athletes programme gains momentum
After three and a half years of development, refinement, and sector-wide collaboration, HPSNZ’s Coaching Female Athletes programme has reached an important new phase.
This year marks a key milestone with the launch of a fully online module and an in person workshop.
The online module, now available via Sport Tutor, provides foundational knowledge on what is specific to female athletes: the coach’s role; female health considerations; injury prevention; and ways of supporting athlete voice.
The in person workshop will take place in Auckland on 11 November, targeting HP and HP Development coaches from all NSOs, including professional team sports.
HPSNZ Healthy Women in Performance Sport programme lead Dr Sue Robson says the aim is to create “a really equitable space,” with a deliberate mix of male and female coaches and a diversity of sporting backgrounds.
Discover programme insights from Cycling NZ coach Elyse Fraser ➜
PM’s Scholarship Athlete Internships – applications close 30 October
Photo credit: Steve McArthur / www.photosport.nz
A reminder that applications for the next round of Prime Minister’s Scholarship athlete internships are open until 30 October.
The programme enables high performance athletes to gain valuable workplace experience, develop career-ready skills and prepare for life beyond sport while continuing to pursue their sporting ambitions.
What the athletes say…
“I’ve always envisioned myself eventually being in the corporate world. The internship has opened my eyes to what corporate life is like and given me experience. It’s going to set me up really well for when I retire from rowing.” – Kate Haines, Rowing
“There’s not a lot of down time for sure, but the internships are incredibly valuable. I feel I now have a place if I had to quit cycling tomorrow. It’s helped me know what I can do and that I have a back-up plan. It has made things less scary.” – Bryony Botha, Cycling
“From interview to starting and completing my internship, everyone was supportive and committed to making it work.” – Anna Grimaldi, Para Athletics
Find our more and apply here.
Performance Nutrition: Data-driven fuelling, athlete-centred decisions
“My app told me I’d eaten enough for the day. But I was still hungry – should I trust the numbers or trust my body?”
Technology is rapidly changing how athletes train, recover and make nutrition decisions. AI-driven platforms, wearables, biosensors, and nutrition apps and can provide valuable data, personalise strategies and reshape practitioner workload.
This is exciting. But does more data necessarily mean better decisions?
For the high performance athlete and their support team, technology is a valuable tool in the toolbox – but only one part of the picture.
PM’s Athlete Scholarship applications open from 2 November
Eligible athletes can apply for 2027 Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarships from Monday 2 November to Monday 23 November 2026.
The scholarship programme supports athletes to pursue tertiary education while continuing their sporting careers. If you are planning to study in 2027, now is the time to explore your options and prepare your application. Please review the guidelines to confirm your eligibility and application requirements.
The Athlete scholarship support can include:
- Financial contribution to study (course) costs and additional study fees of up to $10,000 per year.
- Financial contribution to Study Support Allowance (SSA) of up to $2,500 per year.
Find more information and application guidelines here.
Athlete tips from the Performance Life team: Dual career – plan, build and grow
Being a professional athlete is challenging financially, places significant pressure on individuals and is not sustainable over a lifetime. A dual career allows athletes to learn and grow their skills and gain employment alongside their athletic endeavours.
A dual career may have athletes gaining work experience for financial sustainability, taking the first steps needed to enter a profession, or entering careers to impact their communities.
Athletes who embrace a dual career, with the right balance, have found it to be a performance enabler.
Key benefits:
- Having a different focus can be a positive distraction that reduces stress and improves wellbeing.
- Work or study away from sport provides opportunity to test transferable skills and develop new skills.
- A widening of perspectives can improve financial prospects and future earnings.
- An expanded social network beyond sports allows individuals to expand their identity.
- Apply now for a Prime Minister’s Scholarship or Internship to build and grow your dual career.
Performance Life Top 5
- Start early, talk with your Performance Life coach about your interests, study options and career goals.
- Identify flexible education, work experience or internship opportunities that can fit alongside your sporting commitments.
- Connect each opportunity to the skills, networks and experience you want to build for your longer term career.
- Prepare key supporting information, including your career plan, study plan, CV and cover letter.
- Plan how study or work will fit around training, competition, travel and recovery, including busy periods and support you may need.
Golden Nugget
“Your sporting career and your future career do not have to compete—they can strengthen each other when you plan with purpose.”
Resources
READ: Topics | Dual Career
Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship and Internship Programme information and current guidelines on the HPSNZ website.
PM Scholarship Guidelines
Career Plan Summary
Athlete Study Plan
TALK: Connect with your Performance Life coach for support with career planning, scholarship applications, CVs, cover letters and interview preparation.